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Japanese Invasion of China
China began resisting the expansion of Japanese influence that started in 1931. The Japanese occupied areas of east China from 1937-1938 to try to unseat the Nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek. The efforts resulted in a stalemate and the Japanese were diverted to Southeast Asia and the Pacific Theater of WW2 against the Western Powers and allies. The occupation of China ended in Japans defeat in 1945. https://www.britannica.com/event/Sino-Japanese-War-1937-1945 -
Rape of Nanking
Japanese forces took over Nanking during the Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese government fled to Hankow. Japanese General Matsui Iwane ordered that Nanking be burned and Japanese troops launched the "Rape of Nanking". The Japanese killed ~150,000 male "war prisoners", ~50,000 male civilians, and raped ~20,000 women and girls. Many were killed or injured in the process. Matsui was found guilty of war crimes and executed. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-rape-of-nanking -
Germany Invasion of Poland
To try to regain territory and rule Poland, German forces invaded Poland by air and land. The attack strategies used became known as "blitzkrieg". Hitler set up forces to kill all Nazi's, concentration camps for slaves, and exterminated civilians. Poland attacked head-on but was under-equipped and fell quickly. Great Britain responded with bombing raids on Germany three days later. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-invades-poland -
German Blitzkrieg
German forces tested the blitzkrieg in Poland in 1939. Germany wanted to avoid a long war and quickly overran many territories using "blitzkrieg". This tactic required tank, artillery, and bomber planes. Using this strategy quickly overwhelmed enemies and prevented them from resupplying or redeploying, ultimately causing surrender. https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005437 -
Fall of Paris
June 14, 1940, German troops occupied Paris giving a curfew announcement over loudspeakers. When German tanks arrived in Paris, 2 million Parisians already fled. The German Gestapo conducted arrests, interrogations, and spying. Meanwhile, French men and women hoped for a free France as Canadian troops rolled through and US President Roosevelt froze American assets of the Axis Powers. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-enter-paris -
Operation Barbarossa
Hitler launched his armies east against the Soviet Union. The invasion covered about 2000 miles. German combat effectiveness was in its prime but slowly became less effective. As the German army was slowed, eventually Operation Barbarossa ended in defeat and Germany confronted a two-front war that they couldn't win. -
Pearl Harbor
Japanese planes bombed the American naval base in Pearl Harbor near Honolulu. This only lasted 2 hours but destroyed ~20 American naval vessels (including 8 battleships), more than 300 airplanes, killed more than 2000 American soldiers and sailors, and wounded 1000. The next day, Congress approved President Roosevelt's declaration of war on Japan. Three days later, Germany and Italy also declared war on the US, ultimately leading to WW2. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/pearl-harbor -
Bataan Death March
A 66 mile march in the Philippines that 76,000 prisoners of war (~66,000 Filipinos and 10,000 Americans) was forced by the Japanese military after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. They marched North to San Fernando then taken by boxcar to Capas, walked another 7 miles to Camp O'Donnell. With many killed on the march, 54,000 prisoners made it to the camp and many died of starvation and disease there. https://www.britannica.com/event/Bataan-Death-March -
Battle of Midway
Six months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the US defeated Japan in a naval battle. The Us solved Japanese fleet codes. This helped the US counter Japan's ambush plan, dealing permanent damage to the Japanese Navy. Admiral Nimitz placed US carriers in position to surprise the Japanese. This victory allowed the US and allies to move to a more offensive position. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-midway -
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
After the German invasion of Poland, ~400,000 Jews were confined in Warsaw in an area of about 1 sq. mile and sealed by brick walls, barbed wire, and guards. Residents of the Jewish ghetto in Nazi-occupied Warsaw, Poland, staged a rebellion against deportations to camps. This inspired other ghettos and camps to revolt. The ghetto eventually fell under full German control and survivors were sent to extermination or labor camps. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/warsaw-ghetto-uprising -
Operation Gomorrah
British bombers raided Hamburg, at night and Americans bomb at day. Britain lost 167 civilians to German bombing raids so on July 24 British aircraft dropped 2300 tons of bombs on Hamburg. Over 1500 German civilians died. Britain only lost 12 aircraft out of 791. British attacks lasted until November. The operation was devastating to Hamburg and Hitler refused to visit the bombed cities as it was a sign of his defeat. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-gomorrah-is-launched -
D-Day
Germany invaded France and wanted to take over Europe and Britain but Britain and the US slowed the expanding German forces. The Allies amassed troops and equipment in Britain and increased air strikes and bombings on Germany. Paratroopers invaded and bobs were dropped on German defenses. The Allies attacked with over 150,000 soldiers and 6000 ships carrying troops, weapons, tanks, and equipment. -
Battle of the Bulge
A German offensive that aimed to split American & British armies in France and take over the port of Antwerp to deny the Allies use of the port. It created a bulge in the American lines 50mi wide and 70mi deep. The initial attack consisted of 200000 men, 1000 tanks and guns, 1900 artillery pieces, 2000 aircraft and 262 jets. In the next month Germans lost 100000 men, 700 tanks, and 1600 aircraft. This offensive turned to be a major loss for Hitler. http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-the-bulge -
Liberation of Concentration Camps
Soviet soldiers entered Auschwitz and found hundreds of prisoners. The Germans fled leaving behind the prisoners. The Germans tried to hide the atrocities but the Allies still found thousands of bodies stacked. The survivors were extremely malnourished. Troops, physicians, and relief workers tried to help but many were too weak to eat and half of them died within the first few free days. https://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007724 -
Battle of Iwo Jima
This American amphibious invasion on Iwo Jima was because of the need for a base near Japan's coast. After air and naval bombardment, 3 US marine divisions landed in Iwo Jima where 23,000 Japanese troops defended. The marines defeated the forces in a month. American losses added up to 5,900 dead, 17,400 wounded. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima -
Battle of Okinawa
The last but biggest Pacific island battle of WWII with 287,000 US troops against 130,000 Japanese soldiers. Air bases vital to the invasion of Japan were at stake. The Japanese switched to "Kamikaze" tactics. After 82 days (June 22, 1945), Japan lost more than 77,000 soldiers and the allies had 65,000 casualties including 14,000 dead. The Allies won and today its Japanese territory with US bases still there. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa -
V-E Day
V-E Day is also known as "Victory in Europe Day". V-E Day honors the surrender of Germany to the Allies in 1945 after losing many troops, ending World War II in Europe. With Adolf Hitler dead by suicide, German military leaders signed surrender documents in Europe on May 7. Germany’s partner in fascism, Italy, had switched sides in 1943. http://www.historynet.com/v-e-day-1945-the-celebration-heard-round-the-world.htm -
Dropping of the Atomic Bombs
An American B-29 bomber dropped the first ever deployed atomic bomb on Hiroshima hoping to end the war. It wiped out 90% of the city and immediately killed 80,000 people. Tens of thousands more would later die of radiation. Three days later another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki killing 40,000. Japan's Emperor Hirohito surrendered over a radio address on August 15, saying the atom bombs were "a new and most cruel bomb." http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki -
Potsdam Declaration
One day after the bombing of Nagasaki, Japan submitted its acceptance to the Potsdam Conference terms of surrender. President Truman ordered a halt to further atomic bombing. Tokyo released a message that was passed to the Allies. It accepted the Potsdam Declaration and negotiations between Washington and Tokyo went on as well as fighting between Japan and the Soviet Union in Manchuria. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/japan-accepts-potsdam-terms-agrees-to-unconditional-surrender -
VJ Day
V-J Day is also known as "Victory Over Japan Day". On this day, Japan announced their surrender, ending WWII. The war dragged on until the US decided to drop the atom bombs on Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Killing tens of thousands of people almost immediately ultimately led to Japan's surrender. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/v-j-day
